Correspondent YUSUFU IDEGU examines the achievement of Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong and people’s expectations about dividends of democracy.
The people of Plateau State have commended Governor Lalong for what they describe as rescue mission in the state. They are particularly happy, that in 100 days, Lalong has cleared sthe backlog of salaries owed the civil servants by the immediate past administration of David Jang. The governor was also applauded for his effort towards resolving the ethnic conflict in the state.
Even though 100 days is not enough to asses the performance of a government, but many citizens are convinced that Lalong administration will bring change to Plateau State during its four year tenure.
In his assessment of Lalong administration, former Chariman National Population Commission (NPC) Chief Samu’ila Makama said, “We all crave for a change in governance in the state, we have kept our eyes on Gov Lalong for the past 100 days and I can say, so far so good. There might be no major achievements, but he has given us hope that his administration will do us proud.
“I am particularly delighted with the quality of credible people he has appointed so far especially that of Prof Attahiru Jega to help us develop our state university. Prof Jega is an experienced scholar, he was a former president of ASUU and a former Vice Chancellor of Bayero University Kano. With that experience Prof Jega knows exactly what to do to develop our young university. The institution was badly mismanaged by past administration to the extent that ten years after the establishment of the university it has not graduated any set of student. So bringing in Prof Jega at this stage is a good omen for the university”
Makama said: “The decision of the new government to continue with projects inherited from the immediate past administration is commendable because those road projects are key to tourism development of the state. The governor also embarked on massive maintenance of road network across the state capital, port holes has been a source of night mare to residents of the city, but he has taken that pain off road users and motorists”.
A former chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Mr Maina and currently a chieftain of theAPC in the state said: “I will judge this government based on their background and antecedent. The state has been under the governance of PDP, but because of lack of internal democracy and imposition, we opted for APC. Again the APC government came to inherit huge debt, even the PDP government admitted they left a debt of N109 billion excluding several months of salary arrears, so that is a very bad situation for the take off of any new government.
“The expectations of the people were very high and there was no resources to take off. That was the peculiarity of the new government in Plateau, but even with nothing to start, Gov Lalong has become our change engineer and so far he has given us hope and is taking off in a way that prove he will not disappoint us. I commend his initiative to clear backlog of workers salaries, and most especially, the APC government has refused to abandon inherited project, that shows he meant well for the people and he listen to the wishes and aspirations of the people that gave him the mandate”
The labor union has also rated the administration high. The state chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Comrade Gushing Yarlings said, “The welfare of teachers and civil servants were so poor when he took over, but as I’m talking to you now all that have changed, I can confirm that the APC government has made workers welfare topmost priority and the salary arrears he inherited has been positively handled and all the workers are happy for that. Our fear is will he sustain the tempo having started so well, time shall tell”.
The Senator representing Plateau South in the National Assembly and a chieftain of PDP, Gen. Jeremiah Useni, has this to say of the 100 days of Gov Lalong: “The governor has proved he is a peacemaker. His efforts to resolve the conflict in Berom land is commendable. I will also express my appreciation for the governor’s concern for the state civil servants who were on strike before he assumed office. I was made to understand the governor has cleared the seven months salary arrears he inherited. I belief the governor has also taken concrete steps to unite the people of the state. But in all, Governor Lalong’s efforts to replicate President Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade should be applauded by all citizens of the state because corruption was becoming a tradition, and is a tradition that cannot bring progress to any society”
However, the PDP has scored Lalong administration low saying it lacked clear cut ideas on governance.
“It is also sad to note that he has remained without a cabinet, choosing to carry on with an assortment of party faithful and loyalists, cronies and relations, awarding and executing projects. He has not portrayed himself as a leader demanding accountability, a virtue which should force our public institutions to self-account. While Mr. President has amply demonstrated that he has begun the war on corruption and thievery, Barrister Lalong’s actions in the last 100 days have portrayed him as one who lacks the moral capacity to prosecute an anti-corruption crusade in the state. This is because most of the procurements carried out so far have been shrouded in secrecy and executed by close associates and family members.”
But, another opposition party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is full of praises to the new government. The party which fielded a governorship candidate in the governorship election said. “Though 100 days is never enough to judge the achievement of any government, but, there are signals that Governor Lalong is a change agent. The slogan of APC, which is ‘change’ has beginning to take shape on the plateau, we seen ongoing road projects, salary arrears are being paid, and the issue of internal conflict is receiving adequate attention of Governor Lalong when compare to the recent past. We think there is hope of good governance so far, said, Mallam Sabiu Musa, the ADC flag bearer in 2015 governorship election.
The governor has called on the people of the state affairs in the state to be patience with his government. He said, “Our 100 days in office should be seen in the light of the practical steps that have been put in place to address myriad of problems that were inherited.
“The traditional expectation from Government is an unprecedented show of support as demonstrated by the desire for change. I know that our people also expect a quick return to a Plateau where the virtues of true leadership are upheld in the fear of God, a deep sense of commonality in our ethnic diversity, mutual respect, tolerance, peace, hospitality, humility and diligence. Our patriotic desire to serve is therefore anchored on the pursuit of truth and the enthronement of a governance process that shows commitment to social justice, economic progress and respect for the rule of law.
“In the consciousness with which I assumed leadership of our dear state, we made promises and gave assurances of what would be done in a term of four years. This is with expectations and from the imagination of the challenges that realistically stared us in the face. We are indeed not willing to relent but sustain the hope of our people in a government that feels their pain and are religiously committed to alleviating their sufferings through the appropriate use of our common wealth.
“The enormity of the challenges that we are confronted with have left us with only the immediate option of making quick fixes that will address human basic needs of the citizenry and guarantee the sustenance of a peaceful environment for good governance. In this regard, we remained focused and resolute on addressing the lingering labor unrest through the confidence building dialogue with labor Unions on all the issues in contention. These include the payment of salaries, pensions arrears and the immediate response in addressing injustices meted on certain categories of public office holders through the deliberate abuse of the rule of law and public service procedure.
“Our attention was focused also on the issue of finding a long lasting solution to the violent conflicts in Riyom, Barkin Ladi and parts of Jos South Local Governments Areas, which have continued unabated and have left the state with painful memories of horror and a large number of internally displaced persons. Our approach to resolving this challenge is hinged on rekindling first, confidence in government’s sincerity to solving the problems and then the willingness of the communities for an end to the crisis.
“Our efforts in facilitating dialogue through the many consultations are yielding result beyond imagination. Thus, whilst through the efforts of the Special Task Force, the issues of outright criminality and terrorism are checked, the communities themselves through the Peace and Reconciliation Committee set up by government will actively participate in evolving practical solutions to resolving the conflicts”
Governor Lalong catalogue the liabilities he inherited this way; A workforce whose salaries have not been paid and social welfare needs addressed. An educational sector that is totally grounded from the primary to the tertiary level with all the lingering challenge of unstructured governance in that sector. Awards of road and other infrastructure contracts without funds to complete them. Very low morale of Civil Service setting where the bureaucratic parameters and career development potentials have been abused. Security challenges that have threatened lives and the means of livelihood in the Northern Senatorial District. Virtually empty State treasury and a deplorable condition of limited potential for revenue earning.
In addressing these challenges, Gov Lalong said, “the Transition Committee came into place to identify the level of decay and the state of affairs of the state. Having gone through the report submitted, we shall, as a government, be engaging and implementing the recommendations through a four pronged approach. Through the instrumentality of law, we would immediately pursue the recovery of funds and all government properties annexed or carted away. These include fraudulently monies siphoned through the instrumentality of state agencies for which works have not been done or have not reached the level of payments.
The governor also said, “In our modest way, having acknowledged the enormity of the challenges on ground and being resolute on solving them, this administration has been able to pay workers salary arrears for five months as well as three months pension arrears. Government will endeavor to clear the outstanding as the bail-out is received. We have also launched intervention on road network in Jos the state capital, we are currently reconstructing 18 streets to give the city a face-lift.
“I assumed office when farmers were preparing their land for farming, I supported them with fertilizer, I ordered and distributed 650 trucks of fertilizer to our rural farmers through a community based distribution, which involves Ward and District Heads, so as to eliminates the sharp practices associated with middle men.
“I have mobilized contractors back to sites to make sure the intra-city road construction I inherited are completed for the benefit of our people. The same thing applied to the state high court complex at West of Mines and the state House of Assembly complex.
With these positive steps taken to prove that the change the people yearned for has began, Gov Lalong gave further assurance of a brighter future, “may I further assure you that inspite of the several odds against us, I will ensure that bridges of reconciliation and peace are built so that we forge a new social and economic order anchored on the principle of social justice, rule of law and equal opportunity. We shall strive to be God fearing in the discharge of duties of governance and shall be just and fair to all.
All said and done, but as far as plateau citizens are concerned, they have brought forth a government of change, the burden now lies of the new government effect the change the people desired. Time is ticking away, days, months are already passing-by, and the people are counting. One thing is obvious, the people are ready to change their government if the government failed to change the lives of the people after four years. The change must continued until the people are certified that their social security is guaranteed.
